Allen said: “He’s had a wonderful season. Sometimes it’s gone unnoticed, but certainly the defensive solidarity, he’s been the mainstay of that - protecting the centre-halves. It’s gone unnoticed at times, but they are a formidable defensive unit when he is in front of that back-four.”

Dier did not start the game against Fiorentina, which ended in a 1-1 draw between the Italian and the English sides.

Ryan Mason and Tom Carroll were tasked with patrolling the midfield in the holding position that Dier usually plays, and whilst they do a job in an attacking sense, they struggled when La Viola started controlling the game.

Dier was substituted on with 11 minutes remaining, and it was clear that Mauricio Pochettino was playing for the draw. With Dier’s arrival, Spurs immediately became more solid, and that has been the story of the season.

His work generally does not steal any headlines, but Spurs look much better when Dier is in the side, and it is not a surprise that they have been doing so well in the Premier League, with Dier starting all-but one game in the competition.

Dier has won international recognition due to his performances this season, and whilst the 22-year-old has been praised for his work, there is still a sense that Dier is undervalued when it comes to analysing Tottenham’s success on the field of play.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.